A fine Ottoman ivory-mounted matchlock rifle, Turkey, 17th/18th century

the pattern-welded ribbed barrel inlaid with gold floral decoration at breech and muzzle, the walnut stock with elaborate silver wire and silver-gilt barrel band designs and mosaic hexagrams, the solid marine-ivory butt also inlaid with mosaic roundels, leading to engraved silver-gilt panels set with corals and divided by bands of ivory roundels, one later silver-gilt panel dated 1164 AH/1750-51 AD, the gun retaining its original silver-gilt pricker and retaining sheath

R. Hales, Islamic and Oriental Arms and Armour: A lifetime's passion, London, 2013, p.270, no.651.

Some of the corals and panels of silver-gilt slightly later enhancements, generally with some ware as consistent with age and use, small nicks throughout to wood barrel, few of the corals broken or later replacements (including paste), few sections of gilt-plaques with later gilt overpainting, few dents in some of the wire-inlay designs, some abrasion to extremities, as viewed.
"In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective, qualified opinion. Prospective buyers should also refer to any Important Notices regarding this sale, which are printed in the Sale Catalogue.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF BUSINESS PRINTED IN THE SALE CATALOGUE."

Comparable examples of ivory-inlaid Ottoman guns are in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (inv. no. 32.75.270); the Military Museum in Istanbul (Palace of Gold and Light, Washington, 2000, p.160, no.E25); the Victoria & Albert Museum (A. North, An Introduction to Arms and Armour, London, 1985, p.11, fig.3b); the Wallace Collection (G. Laking, Wallace Collection Catalogues: Oriental Arms and Armour, London, 1914, no.2091) and the Nasser D. Khalili Collection, London (Alexander 1992, pp.126-9, nos.72 and 73; Paris 1988, no.42), as well as two privately owned in Denmark (Copenhagen 1982, nos.40 and 41).